Hannibal's family dominated Carthage and its empire in Africa and Spain for the last 40 years of the 3rd century BC. His father Hamilcar Barca created a powerful empire; Hamilcar's son-in-law Hasdrubal developed it in the face of Roman opposition, and Hannibal and his two brothers led it to its apogee, posing a critical threat to Rome before Carthage's final catastrophic defeat.